Automatic clamp for textile machinery



(No Model.) v I H. W. BUTTERWORTH.

7 AUTOMATIC CLAMP FOR TEXTILE MACHINERY: No. 581,102. Patented Apr. 20,1897.

Invenuor.

WW wW Amorney.

Witnesses.

UNITED STATES ATENT. FFICE.

HARRY W. BUTTERWORTH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE H.BUTTERVVORTH & SON'S' COMPANY, OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC CLAMP FOR TEXTILE MACHINERY.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 581,102, dated April 20,1897.

Application filed. eptember 9, 1896. Serial No. 605,271. (No model.)

T0 or whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY W. BUTTER- WORTH, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement inAutomatic Clamps for Textile Machinery, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention has reference to automatic clamps for textile machinery;and it consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in thefollowing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, whichform a part thereof.

My invention comprehends certain improvements in cloth-clamps especiallyadapted to tentering-machines, and is designed to form a part of anendless conveyer. The clamp is provided with a fixed jaw and a movableo-r pivoted jaw, the latter being governed in its clamping action by thecontrolling-finger, the movements of which arecontrolled by the clothafter being properly placed within the clamp and before being gripped.

In carrying out my invention I provide the link of the chain with afixed jaw and an overhanging arm, to which a movable jaw is pivoted, sothat its gripping edge is pivoted to the movable or fixed jaw. Pivotedto the fixed jaw is a controlling-finger which is provided with a tootharranged to work within a fork on the movable jaw, the said parts beingso proportioned that they cannot normally become disconnected. In theoperation the movable jaw is moved upward by any suitable cam device,and its action causes the controlling-finger to also be raised to permiteasy entrance of the fabric. Upon the release of the movable jaw thecontrolling-finger falls on the fabric and is sustained thereby. Bymeans of the tooth and fork the said control ling-finger also sustainsthe movable jaw out of contact with the fabric, but when the fabric isdrawn from under the controlling-finger the latter drops and permits themovable jaw to quickly descend and grip the fabric at its extreme edge,clamping it between the clamping edge of said movable jaw and the fixedjaw. The controlling -finger and movable jaw are so proportioned andshaped that a movement of the movable jaw will not disengage thecontrolling-finger, so that the latter shall not be accidentallydisplaced and rendered non-operative.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a cloth-clamp embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation thereof with a portion broken away; and Fig. 4 is an endelevation similar to Fig. 2, but with the movable jaw andcontrollingfinger held upward under the action of the cam, so as topermit the entrance of the fabric.

A is a link and forms a portion of the endless conveyer commonly used intenteringmachines.

B is the fixed jaw and is formed upon the upper portion of the link. Inpractice the upper surface of the fixed jaw is covered with a thin brassplate to provide a surface which has no tendency to rust. The fixed jawis provided with an overhanging arm 0, cast integral therewith.

D is the movable jaw and is pivoted to the overhanging arm C at E andhaving the outer lateral extensions D fitted upon the outside of thearms 0 to hold the jaw centrally disposed. The upper part of the jaw Dis provided with an extension 01, adapted to be actuated by a cam S, ofany suitable construction, past which the clamp is moved. The rear sideof the movable clamp D is provided with a fork F J, the part J extendingbackward and downward for a considerable length to form an obstructionin the path of the controlling-finger, should it accidentally beprojected backward, and thereby prevents disengagement of the parts.

G is the controlling-finger and is pivoted-to the fixed jaw at H. Itsforward part is movable vertically through a slot or aperture J in thefixed jaw. At its free end it is provided with an upwardly-extendingtooth I, which works between the parts F J of the fork on the movablejaw. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4:, the cloth isentered, and after the projection (Z is liberated by the cam S thecontrolling-finger G falls upon the fabric, which rests upon the fixedjaw B, and the movable jaw D descends until arrested by the arm J eoming in contact with the teeth I. As the fabric is drawn from under thecontrolling-finger G it ultimately liberates said finger and permits itto fall. In descending the teeth I thereof strikes the arm F of the forkon the movable jaw and forces the jaw upon the fabric. At this time theparts are in the position shown in Fig. 2. hen it is desired to liberatethe fabric, a second cam moves the movable jaw again into the positionshown in Fig. iand liberates the fabric.

It is evident that my improved clam p might be formed for attachment toany endless conveyer other than a chain, though in practice it is commonto employ a chain structure in tentering-machines, and I thereforeprefer the specific form shown.

lYhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cloth-clamp for textile machinery, the combination of a fixedjaw having a slot or aperture in its face and an overhanging arm orframe, a movable jaw pivoted to the overhanging arm or frame adapted tooperate with the fixed jaw and provided with a rearwardly-extending forkformed with teeth or arms of differentlength and in which the lower isthe shorter, and a controlling-tinger pivoted to the fixed jaw in therear so as to be movable through the slot or aperture in the facethereof and provided with a tooth extending forward between the twoteeth or arms of the movable jaw so as to be positively supported at alltimes in normal operation by the lower or shorter arm or tooth andhaving no contact with the movable jaw except between the pivots of thecontrolling-finger and movable jaw, whereby apositive movement of themovable jaw will lift the controlling-finger and a downward movement ofthe finger when released by the fabric acts to force down the movablejaw to grip the fabric.

2. 111 a cloth-clamp for textile machinery, the combination of a fixedjaw having a slot or aperture in its face and an overhanging arm orframe, a movable jaw pivoted to the arms of different length and inwhich the lower is the shorter and the upper extends backward anddownward to act as a stop for preventing disengagement of thecontrollingfinger when thrown upward, and a controlling-finger pivotedto the fixed jawin the rear so as to be movable through the slot oraperture in the face thereof and provided with a tooth extending forwardbetween the two teeth or arms of the movable jaw so as to be positivelysupported at all times in normal operation by the lower shorter arm ortooth in position to be acted upon by the upper and longer tooth or armat a point in advance of the pivot of the finger to in sure it beingforced downward into position if accidentally or abnormally held upward,and having no contact with the movable jaw except between the pivots ofthe controlling-linger and movable jaw, whereby a positive movementofthemovable jaw will lift the controlling-finger and a downward movement ofthe finger when released by the fabric acts to force down the movablejaw to grip the fabric.

3. In a clamp for textile machinery, the combination ofa fixed jaw l3having the over hangingarm or frame (I, movable jaw D pivoted to theoverhanging arm or frame and provided with a fork composed of arms I! .Isubstantially as shown wherein the arm .1 extends backwardly beyond thearm I and is also curved downward on the forward side of the pivot ofthe controlling-finger, and a pivoted controlling-finger G hinged to therear of the fixed jaw and provided with an upwardlyand forward extendingtooth Iadapted to loosely engage the fork of the movable jaw so that thelower arm 1* sustains the finger before the cloth is placed in the clampand the finger acting upon the upper arm .I supports the movable jawwhen the cloth is in the clamp, and the curved end of said arm .Iprevents accidental disengagement of the fingcr from the fork.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY \V. llU' "ERWORTII.

Witnesses It. M. lluxrnn, R. M. KELLY.

